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Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 19, 2020 at 7.30pm UK
 
West Ham logo

2-0

Rodri (30'), De Bruyne (62')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Who could replace Raheem Sterling for Manchester City?

Who could replace Raheem Sterling for Manchester City?
© Reuters
The England forward has a hamstring injury.

Manchester City will be without England forward Raheem Sterling for Sunday's Premier League clash with West Ham.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the options manager Pep Guardiola has to cover his absence.

Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva can operate on the left
Bernardo Silva can operate on the left (Adam Davy/PA)

There have been many occasions when Sterling and Silva have operated in the same side, often with the England international playing to the left and the Portuguese to the right. In this instance Silva would take up Sterling's position on the left. Riyad Mahrez, as he has for a lot of the campaign, would provide balance on the right in a fairly seamless change.

Phil Foden

Phil Foden is hoping for an opportunity
Phil Foden is hoping for an opportunity (Martin Rickett/PA)

The highly-rated teenager continues to wait patiently for opportunities at the Etihad Stadium and this could open up a spot. He is not a natural replacement for a forward like Sterling, however. Bringing in the youngster would probably require someone else – a versatile performer such as Kevin De Bruyne for instance – switching position to accommodate him.

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus provides a different option
Gabriel Jesus provides a different option (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sterling's absence could also give City chance to experiment with a different shape and bring in a second out-and-out striker. Sergio Aguero and Jesus rarely operate together as twin strikers but they were used in tandem with notable success in last month's 6-1 win at Aston Villa and it might be worth trying again. City will want to have a number of options at their disposal when their Champions League tie with Real Madrid comes around.

Leroy Sane

City have badly missed Leroy Sane this season
City have badly missed Leroy Sane this season (Adam Davy/PA)

The German winger, who has been out since suffering a knee injury in the Community Shield, is hoping to return to action in the near future. Sunday may come too soon but if Sterling's absence lasts a little while, Sane would be an obvious choice for the left-hand side.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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